Hmmm, that would depend on the machine and what they consider maintenance.

My old singer not the collectable ones, just an old one for the 60's or so. I could take her apart and figure how to fix her. But still rather than tell me what and easy fix something was I spent $100, cause I didn't know better.

Now I have a much more expensive machine. The store people, always say bring it in. no matter the problem bring it in. Feels like I am wasting my money, too scared and with no back up on how to take her apart and fix simple things.
If it is actually, "here this is how you can fix this" instead of "keep it nice, any problems bring it in" I wold be interested.

Oh and the manual! I aught not get started on the manual!! Trouble shooting, was lame and didn't cover any troubles, no diegrams on the mechanisms, nothing. Just no details at all, would love a behind the curtain, this how you can fix this at home class.

Some of us don't have the confidence to take things apart without having someone show us first. Manuals aren't always helpful especially if you are a visual person. I still can't figure out where the manual is trying to show me where to oil my machine. Took a guess and it seems okay but I'm not sure I was right.. It took me years to get brave enough to clean and oil my sewing machine. I was afraid I'd do something wrong. I would have happily paid $10.00 for some guidance.

i think that is great- and wish more would- so often shops want you to take your machine in and pay them $40 and up to clean-oil your machine- i would happily pay $10 to learn to do it myself!

exactly! i took a class at joanns to learn to measure,cut and press..how to follow a pattern..etc. it was excellent for me, being a newbie at the time. (about 6 years ago.) i would of gladly taken a class to learn how to take care of my machine..ie changing the needle,oiling and where and when,understanding tension.
taking the bobbin racer out and cleaning it. $10 bucks is a deal.
not everyone got a manual with their machine,unless it was new. not everyone understands how a machine sews, or that the bottom stitches are controlled by the tension up above.
and even though my machine were bought new, i am a visual person, i learn better watching and trying,rather than reading..IMHO